With the final results for the 2025 election now confirmed, South Waikato District Council would like to welcome our new Council – five new Elected Members who join the six returning Councillors to form the new Council – along with thanking our departing Elected Members for their contribution over the past triennium.

Mayor Gary Petley has been re-elected for a second-consecutive term as Mayor, gaining 2,275 votes.

Michael Thomas, Ani Lipscombe and Elvisa Van Der Leden are the new Tokoroa Ward members, joining incumbents Maria Te Kanawa, Thomas Lee and Josiah Teokotai.

In the Putāruru Ward, Dave Shaw and Zed Latinovic join returning member Sandra Wallace.

Kerry Purdy will once again serve as the Tīrau Ward member after being elected unopposed.

The Tīrau Community Board will be made up of Chris Hunt, Graham Singers, Mandeep Singh and Fiona Van Lent, after all four were elected unopposed.

The voter return was 45.83%, amounting to 7,596 votes, including special votes.

South Waikato District Council Chief Executive Susan Law said she is looking forward to tackling the District’s future challenges and opportunities with the newly formed Council, while acknowledging the considerable work achieved over the past triennium.

“A warm welcome to the new faces joining us, and a welcome back to those who were successful in earning re-election for this term,” Law said.

“While we face some hefty challenges here in the South Waikato, there’s also a huge opportunity to make a meaningful difference and set the District up for a better future.

“I’m looking forward to getting down to work with this Council. “I’d also like to acknowledge the outgoing Council, who have served our District wholeheartedly through the past triennium.

“The progress made on several levels through this period has been significant and will have a lasting impact.”

The new Council will be officially sworn in at a ceremony on 29 October at Papa O Te Aroha Marae, which will be followed by the first Council meeting of the triennium, held at the same venue.

Both the swearing in ceremony and meeting will be open to members of the public.

FINAL RESULTS

The final results for the South Waikato District Council elections held on Saturday 11 October are as follows.

Mayoralty, Votes Received

PETLEY, Gary (Puku) 2,275

LATINOVIC, Zed (Independent) 2,159

WALLACE, Sandra 1,981

HALL, Jeremy 421

BARNES, David Henry (Independent) 256

MARK, Greg 255

SMITH-HOLLEY, Joshua Michael 187

INFORMAL 8

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 54

Gary (Puku) PETLEY is declared elected.

Tīrau Ward (1 vacancy)

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Kerry PURDY is elected unopposed.

Putāruru Ward (3 vacancies), Votes Received

WALLACE, Sandra (Independent) 1,491

SHAW, Dave (Independent) 1,222

LATINOVIC, Zed (Independent) 1,184

NELIS, Hans 853

MARAMA, Sapphire 809

DIXON, George 677

SCOTT, Danny 433

INFORMAL 1

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 10

Zed LATINOVIC, Dave SHAW and Sandra WALLACE are declared elected.

Tokoroa Ward (6 vacancies), Votes Received

TE KANAWA, Maria 2,290

THOMAS, Michael 2,023

LIPSCOMBE (RATU), Ani 2,021

VAN DER LEDEN, Elvisa (Independent) 1,727

LEE, Thomas 1,626

TEOKOTAI, Josiah 1,608

DAINE, Hamish 1,501

HERLIHY, Tony 1,474

MACHEN, Bill (Independent) 1,303

SCHULTE, Peter (No Water meters) 1,202

ADLAM, Ray (Independent) 1,082

PORTAS, Nick 1,075

WILSON, Gordon 919

BARNES, David Henry (Independent) 917

SMITH-HOLLEY, Joshua Michael 682

MCISAAC, Frank 523

INFORMAL 11

BLANK VOTING PAPERS 17

Thomas LEE, Ani LIPSCOMBE (RATU), Maria TE KANAWA, Josiah TEOKOTAI, Michael THOMAS and Elvisa VAN DER LEDEN are declared elected.

Tīrau Community Board (4 vacancies), Votes Received

As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Chris HUNT, Graham SINGERS, Mandeep SINGH and Fiona VAN LENT are elected unopposed.

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